Normality begins to return after unrest
Thus far, 862 people have been arrested in connection with the looting and unrest that rocked the province earlier this week.
A sense of normality was beginning to return following bouts of unrest in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal this week, the presidency said.
“The situation in the two provinces of Gauteng and KZN is gradually, but firmly returning to normality,” acting minister in the presidency Khumbudzo Ntshaveni said during a media briefing on Friday.
This as she explained that no new incidents had been reported in Gauteng overnight on Thursday, through to the hours leading up to the briefing.
On Saturday, Tshwane metro police department spokesperson Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba echoed a similar sentiment, adding that no incidents of looting nor criminality were recorded overnight on Friday either.
Overall, 58 incidents were recorded in Gauteng with 32 deaths and 862 arrests.
Mahamba’s remarks were reiterated by private security companies in Centurion and the east of Pretoria.
Monitor Net’s JP le Roux said things in Centurion were “all good” with no incidents while Bull Security’s French Jooste said “everything is calm”.
“Not one incident so far,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tshwane mayor Randall Williams, on Friday morning, said a total of 130 suspects had appeared in the Mamelodi magistrate’s court on charges that included public violence, theft and possession of stolen goods.
This was following incidents of looting and criminality earlier in the week at the Denlyn and Mams Mall in Mamelodi.
Williams also said metro law enforcement teams and SA National Defence Force remain deployed in various parts of the city to maintain law and order, while also ensuring the safety of residents.
An intelligence-driven operation was also launched to recoup some of the goods stolen during the unrest.
